Bringing African music to The Belfry

Legendary Zimbabwean musician Thomas Mapfumo will come to Sisters for an evening of music on Friday, October 23 at The Belfry.

Mapfumo is known for his mbira-infused music that echoes the struggles of the people of Zimbabwe. He has performed his own Chimurenga music around the world since the 1970s, forming his group Blacks Unlimited in 1978 and continuing a storied career through over four decades.

Thomas Tafirenyika "Mukanya" Mapfumo was born in Marondera, Zimbabwe, in 1945.

His early childhood moments, saw him tapping traditional music and instruments (ngoma, hosho and mbira) from his grandparents who were avid musicians in the village.

Unbeknownst to him, that early stage set-up underlined with innocence would describe his future music career and earn him global fame.

Around 1973 Mapfumo joined his first group, the Hallelujah Chicken Band in Mhangura, a small mining town.

Initially, he sang in English but quickly spotted a need to express himself in vernacular and please his local fans.

That way, he would also spread consciousness and the call for freedom.

He had a brief stint with the Hallelujah Chicken Band before joining with others to form the Acid Band.

Realizing a need for seriously pursuing his own Chimurenga music genre, he then founded the Blacks Unlimited around 1978.

By then, Chimurenga music had morphed into a symbol for the struggle in war-torn Rhodesia. Through that music banner, he continued to taunt the colonial regime, denouncing poverty while advocating for freedom.

When Zimbabwe became independent in 1980, Mapfumo shared the celebrations stage in Rufaro Stadium with the Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley, opening more doors to international fame and recording opportunities in London.

Corruption, grinding poverty, and the decaying rule of law blighted a promising Zimbabwe, saddening hopeful masses and inevitably pushing Mapfumo to compose more lyrics as missiles for protest against his own government. The same music censorship characteristics of colonial Rhodesia also visited Mukanya upon his release of the "Corruption" album in independent Zimbabwe. In 2000, he relocated to the USA and continued with his music.

Doors open at 7 p.m .; show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at bendticket.com.